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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think Andy Burnham will not make Labour any more electable.

387 replies

4thweekofjuly · 14/05/2026 17:09

I think there is little appetite for a new PM and a new Labour leader will make 0 difference to their chances of winning. I also think the best the public can hope for, from any government, is a slow, well managed decline. I don't think there is much of a future in the UK and the public need to accept the social contract is no more. .

OP posts:
cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:33

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 14/05/2026 19:31

@cardibach The Conservatives were not all incompetent. May’s negotiation with the EU was far better than the one we ended up with. The most incompetent people around here are the electorate. They expect a quick fix in the light of the Covid costs and world upheaval affecting oil prices. Burnham can fix neither and the chancellor already had seen her fiscal headroom slashed with increased borrowing costs. Most of the population have no idea about anything economic and bay for blood. Most people seem economically illiterate. We cannot afford what Burnham will be told to do and neither can our DC. We need long term plans, not quick fix, over promising, leaders who are out for themselves.

I’d agree that May was ok. She made mistakes, but I think she genuinely had the country’s best interests at heart (though how she thought hard Brexit was that is incomprehensible). The rest though…

cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:33

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 14/05/2026 19:31

@cardibach The Conservatives were not all incompetent. May’s negotiation with the EU was far better than the one we ended up with. The most incompetent people around here are the electorate. They expect a quick fix in the light of the Covid costs and world upheaval affecting oil prices. Burnham can fix neither and the chancellor already had seen her fiscal headroom slashed with increased borrowing costs. Most of the population have no idea about anything economic and bay for blood. Most people seem economically illiterate. We cannot afford what Burnham will be told to do and neither can our DC. We need long term plans, not quick fix, over promising, leaders who are out for themselves.

I’d agree that May was ok. She made mistakes, but I think she genuinely had the country’s best interests at heart (though how she thought hard Brexit was that is incomprehensible). The rest though…

Changingplace · 14/05/2026 19:34

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:33

Oh give over - the “Labour haven’t had chance..,,” rhetoric has run out of time, Starmer is incapable of commanding the respect of the country or even his party. He’s overseen economically disastrous choices, his government have done nothing to improve life for anyone. Starmer is spineless, I wouldn’t trust him to lead the proverbial piss up in a brewery - he’s a wet blanket. At least Burnham has charisma. A leader needs charisma, I like Burnham he does seem to have much better leadership skills and done a lot for Manchester.

You could read his actions either as the actions of a shamelessly selfish megalomaniac or the actions of someone decisive who sees the desperate need to replace the leader for the good of the country.

But quite frankly the whole thing is just a mess. We need a general election assp.

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The whole ‘we need a general election’ line is redundant, it won’t happen until the end of the term, it’s a pointless thing to say.

user1471453601 · 14/05/2026 19:36

4thweekofjuly · 14/05/2026 17:09

I think there is little appetite for a new PM and a new Labour leader will make 0 difference to their chances of winning. I also think the best the public can hope for, from any government, is a slow, well managed decline. I don't think there is much of a future in the UK and the public need to accept the social contract is no more. .

while I could agree that there is little appetite for a new Labour leader I have to take issue with your idea that Burnham will not make Labour more electable.

Burnham is an advocate for proportionate representation. If (big, big if) he were to become Labour Leader in the next few years and if (another big if) he could introduced PR, I think a coalition government could be a government of Labour, Lib Dems, greens, SNP. Or some combination of those groups.

Changingplace · 14/05/2026 19:37

Sewciopath · 14/05/2026 19:22

It is the Makerfield MP Josh Simmons not Macclesfield. I live in that constituency and think Burnham is taking a huge risk by giving up his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester for a seat that Reform are very likely to win.

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Looking at the local election results it’s a huge risk…

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:38

Changingplace · 14/05/2026 19:34

The whole ‘we need a general election’ line is redundant, it won’t happen until the end of the term, it’s a pointless thing to say.

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Well whether or not it happens doesn’t take away from the fact this is what would be best for the country

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:40

user1471453601 · 14/05/2026 19:36

while I could agree that there is little appetite for a new Labour leader I have to take issue with your idea that Burnham will not make Labour more electable.

Burnham is an advocate for proportionate representation. If (big, big if) he were to become Labour Leader in the next few years and if (another big if) he could introduced PR, I think a coalition government could be a government of Labour, Lib Dems, greens, SNP. Or some combination of those groups.

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If that’s the case let’s hope Reform win the election. Can you imagine what those lot would do for Britain (the answer is destroy its culture, society and economy)

cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:41

user1471453601 · 14/05/2026 19:36

while I could agree that there is little appetite for a new Labour leader I have to take issue with your idea that Burnham will not make Labour more electable.

Burnham is an advocate for proportionate representation. If (big, big if) he were to become Labour Leader in the next few years and if (another big if) he could introduced PR, I think a coalition government could be a government of Labour, Lib Dems, greens, SNP. Or some combination of those groups.

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This is actually the only positive I can see to Burnham.

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:42

Changingplace · 14/05/2026 19:37

Looking at the local election results it’s a huge risk…

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They’re counting on the electorate who’ve moved from Labour to Reform having done so purely because they dislike Starmer- I’m not sure that’s the case

cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:42

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:38

Well whether or not it happens doesn’t take away from the fact this is what would be best for the country

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It absolutely wouldn’t be best for the country. Having a stable democracy with decent terms of government is best for the country.

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:43

cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:41

This is actually the only positive I can see to Burnham.

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What the destruction of British Society?

cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:44

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:40

If that’s the case let’s hope Reform win the election. Can you imagine what those lot would do for Britain (the answer is destroy its culture, society and economy)

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Utter nonsense. The country regularly (always?) votes a majority to left of centre and rarely gets a govenrment that reflects that due to FPTP. Those parties are perfectly normal, unlike Reform and its dodgy finance.

luckylavender · 14/05/2026 19:44

Backedoffhackedoff · 14/05/2026 17:28

That’s not really the point though is it? The labour party are unhappy with their leader. They have 2 more years in government. They need a leader to be prime minister

3 years

JustSawJohnny · 14/05/2026 19:44

Well don't you sound positive!

How about we all just throw ourselves of the nearest cliff now, yeah? 🙄

cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:46

Whysnothingsimple · 14/05/2026 19:43

What the destruction of British Society?

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So you think a government made up of the parties voted for by the people in the same proportion they voted would destroy British society? You think democracy would destroy it? You don’t actually have a lot of respect for the British people, do you?

Jmaho · 14/05/2026 19:47

@Sewciopathyes he's played it very well. Managed to talk the current MP into giving up his seat as he covers it already so he can tell everyone how much it means to him blah blah blah. But he was obviously always intending to go down this road. Nothing to see here. Just a complete coincidence! Talking of coincidences, how odd that HMRC cleared Rayner of any wrongdoing at exactly the same time. Spooky!
I voted for Labour myself im ashamed to say but cannot understand how anyone can try and defend what's going on right now. Just embarrassing! Scandal after scandal, sleaze and corruption from day one. There isnt a single Politician from any of the parties that I would vote for

cardibach · 14/05/2026 19:50

Jmaho · 14/05/2026 19:47

@Sewciopathyes he's played it very well. Managed to talk the current MP into giving up his seat as he covers it already so he can tell everyone how much it means to him blah blah blah. But he was obviously always intending to go down this road. Nothing to see here. Just a complete coincidence! Talking of coincidences, how odd that HMRC cleared Rayner of any wrongdoing at exactly the same time. Spooky!
I voted for Labour myself im ashamed to say but cannot understand how anyone can try and defend what's going on right now. Just embarrassing! Scandal after scandal, sleaze and corruption from day one. There isnt a single Politician from any of the parties that I would vote for

Are you suggesting HMRC are 8nvolved in a conspiracy to change the Labour leadership team? I’m totally bewildered by this level of conspiracy thinking.

BoredZelda · 14/05/2026 19:51

Yay, so now we’re starting the early pile on of Burnham, and writing off any future Labour leader rather than giving them any kind of chance.

Just say you’re Jonesing for a Reform government and be done with it.

climbintheback · 14/05/2026 19:52

Big gamble with only 5000 majority!

Jmaho · 14/05/2026 19:54

@cardibachdidnt suggest that at all. I was saying that its a coincidence that she was cleared today. It's the timing. Perhaps she paid the bill as soon as she stepped down and it just so happens that she was officially cleared today or perhaps she paid it as soon as the knives came out for Starmer?

1dayatatime · 14/05/2026 19:58

tttigress · 14/05/2026 19:28

These 2 elections will be very expensive for the tax payers. Labour are so arrogant.

Estimated at £5 million for both elections.

TofuTuesday · 14/05/2026 19:59

Starmer has been a massive let down, but I have no appetite for a new leader, it’s so frustrating they all put their ambitions and the scent of blood above the country.

Jmaho · 14/05/2026 20:03

@BoredZelda Why Reform? Why not one of the other parties like the Greens for example?

TemperanceWest · 14/05/2026 20:04

BoredZelda · 14/05/2026 19:51

Yay, so now we’re starting the early pile on of Burnham, and writing off any future Labour leader rather than giving them any kind of chance.

Just say you’re Jonesing for a Reform government and be done with it.

The voters of Makerfield are apparently, and rightly, very pissed off. Burnham might as well wrap the seat up in a turquoise ribbon and hand it to Reform.

Hubbalooloo · 14/05/2026 20:06

I hope Starmer stays. He’s he’s had a difficult if not impossible challenge and was brave to take it all on after the mess left by the previous government. He was always going to be unpopular. If he goes I think Burnham is the best bet for labour.